U.S. World Champs Trials, Day 3 Finals: Kirk and Hardy Pave Way in 100 Breaststroke

By John Lohn
Photos by Peter Bick

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 3. AFTER the morning preliminaries, the 100 breaststroke appeared to be a three-woman race. And, that's exactly how it panned out, with Tara Kirk and Jessica Hardy walking away with the invitations to Montreal.

The top qualifier, Kirk came close to the American record and finished first in 1:07.11, not far off the 1:07.05 that Megan Quann turned into gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Hardy, a rising sensation, hit the wall in 1:07.83, just ahead of Megan Jendrick, the former Quann. Jendrick was timed in a solid 1:07.95.

At the 50-meter mark, Jendrick held the lead at 31.51 and was under American-record pace, slightly ahead of Kirk (31.57). While Kirk continued to fire down the stretch, Jendrick slowed, allowing Hardy to move into second at the finish.

The short-course world-record holder in the 100 breast, Kirk might be in position for an international breakthrough in the long-course format. Come Montreal, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Stanford product post a 1:06-point effort and land on the medal podium. As for Hardy, the Irvine Nova youngster is rapidly improving and could be a player in Canada.

Rebecca Soni was fourth in the event, but her 1:09.20 was well of the pace established by the leading triumvirate. Soni was followed by Lindsey Ertter (1:10.17), Caroline Bruce (1:10.39), Elizabeth Tinnon (1:10.59) and Erin Briskie (1:10.85).